We’re at the beginning of a new decade. We’re at the beginning of a new year. I’m struck, more than ever, by the reality that my life is in the future. Teenage Ferris Bueller sagely said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Your future is happening right now
In February 2019 my life seemed to be changing by the minute. I stood in the street waving good-bye to my daughter who was leaving to go study half way around world. Just then, my wife leaned out the car window to proclaim, “Life is in the future!”
The truth of her statement slugged me in the face.
Our future is being realized in every single moment that passes us by. In one nanosecond your future has moved into the present and then into the past. The future is going to bum-rush you whether you are ready or not.
My question to you is – what do you want from your future?
In a previous post I wrote Why a Personal Strategic Retreat Can Change Your Life Forever. Big companies spend billions of dollars thinking about future strategy and how to grow and develop specific plans for achieving future success.
Why shouldn’t you have a similar “strategic” plan for your life?
Abraham Lincoln said, “The best way to predict your future is to create it.”
Is life tough? Yes.
Is life unexpected? Yes.
Are there factors out of your control? Yes.
Are you relegated to having no control over your life? NO!!
Don’t believe the lie that you have no control.
You can write your own narrative. You can influence where you are going and how you will get there. Planning your life is the best way to get you what you want. Don’t spend your life passively accepting what comes your way.
“Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity” Prov 21:5 NLT
Why planning for the future may be difficult for you
Thinking about the future has always come easy to me because it’s the way I’m wired; I’m always peering over the horizon thinking about what could or should be.
However, I’ve come to understand that for others, it’s not so easy.
In March 2019 I attended an Enneagram conference presented by Suzanne Stabile where I learned that we each have a particular orientation to time.
Some of us are future oriented and are always looking ahead.
Some of us are present oriented and live in the here and now.
Some of us are past oriented, and let our past dictate our present and our future.
Are you past, present or future oriented? Be honest, there’s no right answer, the world needs us all.
The key point is to know is that if you are naturally inclined to focus on the past or the present, you’ll need to work harder when it comes to planning for your future.
Let’s do a quick check-up on how you’ve changed over the last 12 months:
- Have you made any new and exciting changes to your life?
- What new personal challenges did you take-on?
- What new social relationships did you develop?
- What new hobbies or vocational activities did you begin?
- What new books did you read?
- What new big ideas did you learn or study?
- What bad habits did you free yourself from?
- What big dreams did you pursue?
- How did you share your time and your talents?
- How did you make your life better?
Maybe you’re not pleased with the answers you gave to my questions. That’s ok! Awareness is the first step in making any change.
You know from reading this blog that I firmly believe wise living is successful living. If you make bold change, you’ll grow. If you take risks, you’ll achieve more. And if you do some personal planning, you’ll live a more fulfilled and multi-dimensional life.
Friends, don’t let this next year happen TO you, make it happen FOR you. Seize the day, and good luck!
Be Wise & Successful…
1. Read this resource. https://bewiseandsuccessful.com/dont-fear-change-make-it-your-friend/ and my free e-book RETREAT: How A Personal Strategic Retreat Can Change Your Life.
2. Invest in yourself. Take a morning, go find a quiet spot where you can’t be interrupted, and get serious about what you want to achieve during the next 12 months. Don’t edit yourself. Write down everything that comes into your mind, whether it’s crazy or not. Crazy can happen if you make it happen!
3. The next 12 months. Twelve months from today, how will you want the answers to read to the 10 questions? Close your eyes, envision the benefits and keep your written response somewhere where you can review them every week.
Do you want to live a happier, more successful life? I’m Greg, that’s my passion, and that’s what I explore on my blog. Read More…